Ultrathin Tungsten Oxide Nanowires/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites for Toluene Sensing.

Graphene-based composites have gained great attention in the field of gas sensor fabrication due to their higher surface area with additional functional groups. Decorating one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanomaterials on graphene also show potential benefits in gas sensing applications. Here we demonstrate the one-pot and low cost synthesis of WO NWs/rGO composites with different amount of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) which show excellent gas-sensing properties towards toluene and strong dependence on their chemical composition.

Click-Functionalized SERS Nanoprobes with Improved Labeling Efficiency and Capability for Cancer Cell Imaging.

Precise identification and detection of cancer cells using nanoparticle probes are critically important for early cancer diagnosis and subsequent therapy. We herein develop novel folate receptor (FR)-targeted surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobes for cancer cell imaging based on a click coupling strategy. A Raman-active derivative (5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)-N (DNBA-N)) is designed with a disulfide bond for covalently anchoring to the surface of hollow gold nanoparticles (HAuNPs) and a terminal azide group for facilitating highly efficient conjugation with the bioligand.

Validity of a Newly-Designed Rectilinear Stepping Ergometer Submaximal Exercise Test to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

The maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O max), determined from graded maximal or submaximal exercise tests, is used to classify the cardiorespiratory fitness level of individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal exercise test protocol performed on a newly-designed rectilinear stepping ergometer (RSE) that used up and down reciprocating vertical motion in place of conventional circular motion and giving precise measurement of workload, to determine V̇O max in young healthy male adults. Thirty-two young healthy male adults (32 males; age range: 20-35 years; height: 1.

Real-time monitoring of plasmon-induced proton transfer of hypoxanthine in serum.

Intramolecular proton transfer of hypoxanthine, induced by application of a laser on the surface of a bare noble nanomaterial, was monitored in real time using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This monitoring demonstrated the dependence of the reaction on the identity of the nanomaterial and on the laser power density. The results pave the way for monitoring the proton transfer reaction in various relevant fields.

Microfluidic dielectrophoresis device for trapping, counting and detecting Shewanella oneidensis at the cell level.

Shewanella oneidensis, a model organism for electrochemical activity bacteria, has been widely studied at the biofilm level. However, to obtain more information regarding this species, it is essential to develop an approach to trap and detect S. oneidensis at the cell level.

ctPath: Demixing pathway crosstalk effect from transcriptomics data for differential pathway identification.

Identifying differentially expressed pathways (DEPs) plays important roles in understanding tumor etiology and promoting clinical treatment of cancer or other diseases. By assuming gene expression to be a sparse non-negative linear combination of hidden pathway signals, we propose a pathway crosstalk-based transcriptomics data analysis method (ctPath) for identifying differentially expressed pathways. Biologically, pathways of different functions work in concert at the systematic level.

Sensitive detection of sulfide based on the self-assembly of fluorescent silver nanoclusters on the surface of silica nanospheres.

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic and flammable gaseous pollutant often emitted to air as a by-product of water supply, chemical, petroleum and coal industries. It can be transferred into sulfur dioxide in the air under some meteorologic conditions. Herein, we report a novel ratiometric fluorescence method for hydrogen sulfide based on silver nanoclusters and quantum dots.

Hierarchical Morphology-Dependent Gas-Sensing Performances of Three-Dimensional SnO Nanostructures.

Hierarchical morphology-dependent gas-sensing performances have been demonstrated for three-dimensional SnO nanostructures. First, hierarchical SnO nanostructures assembled with ultrathin shuttle-shaped nanosheets have been synthesized via a facile and one-step hydrothermal approach. Due to thermal instability of hierarchical nanosheets, they are gradually shrunk into cone-shaped nanostructures and finally deduced into rod-shaped ones under a thermal treatment.

Functionalized Acupuncture Needle as Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy Sensor for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Dopamine in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid.

It is a challenge to develop a robust sensor for simple, rapid operation and sensitive detection of neurotransmitters in complex specimens. Herein, ferric citrate functionalized gold nanoparticles (CA-Fe /Au NPs) are utilized to develop a facile sensor based on surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) for sensitive detection of dopamine (DA). The sensor is prepared by decorating the acupuncture needle with Au NPs, which enables sufficient surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enhancement.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water-SPM-sediment system from the middle reaches of Huai River, China: Distribution, partitioning, origin tracing and ecological risk assessment.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in the water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment from the middle reaches of Huai River were analyzed by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The mean concentrations for the sum of 16 PAHs (∑ PAHs) in the water, SPM and sediment were 1204 ng/L, 3192 ng/g (dry weight; dw), and 7955 ng/g (dw), respectively. Along the vertical profiles of water columns, higher ∑ PAHs levels were seen in surface and bottom water layers and co-located SPM.

Trimethylamine Sensors Based on Au-Modified Hierarchical Porous Single-Crystalline ZnO Nanosheets.

It is of great significance for dynamic monitoring of foods in storage or during the transportation process through on-line detecting trimethylamine (TMA). Here, TMA were sensitively detected by Au-modified hierarchical porous single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets (HPSCZNs)-based sensors. The HPSCZNs were synthesized through a one-pot wet-chemical method followed by an annealing treatment.

CancerSubtypes: an R/Bioconductor package for molecular cancer subtype identification, validation and visualization.

Summary: Identifying molecular cancer subtypes from multi-omics data is an important step in the personalized medicine. We introduce CancerSubtypes, an R package for identifying cancer subtypes using multi-omics data, including gene expression, miRNA expression and DNA methylation data. CancerSubtypes integrates four main computational methods which are highly cited for cancer subtype identification and provides a standardized framework for data pre-processing, feature selection, and result follow-up analyses, including results computing, biology validation and visualization.

Competitive adsorption behavior toward metal ions on nano-Fe/Mg/Ni ternary layered double hydroxide proved by XPS: Evidence of selective and sensitive detection of Pb(II).

Hypersensitive and highly selective nanomaterials for the measurement of heavy metal ions (HMIs) hold a key to electro-analysis. Various works improved the results of analysis but without scientific understanding. Herein, Fe/Mg/Ni-layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been successfully prepared and its electrochemical behavior for Pb(II) detection is also studied using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV).

Dual-Colored Carbon Dot Ratiometric Fluorescent Test Paper Based on a Specific Spectral Energy Transfer for Semiquantitative Assay of Copper Ions.

Classical pH test papers are widely used to measure the acid-base degree of media in a qualitative or semiquantitative manner. However, the extension of portable and inexpensive methods to a wide range of analytes so as to eliminate the tediousness of instrumental assays remains unsuccessful. Here, we report a novel kind of dual-colored carbon dot (CD) ratiometric fluorescent test paper for the semiquantitative assay of copper ions (Cu) by a dose-sensitive color evolution.

Sensitive determination of endogenous hydroxyl radical in live cell by a BODIPY based fluorescent probe.

The sensitive and selective fluorescence probe for hydroxyl radical analysis is of significance because hydroxyl radical plays key roles in many physiological and pathological processes. In this work, a novel organic fluorescence molecular probe OHP for hydroxyl radical is synthesized by a two-step route. The probe employs 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (difluoroboron dipyrromethene, BODIPY) as the fluorophore and possesses relatively high fluorescence quantum yields (77.

A comparison of bone quality and its determinants in young opioid-dependent women with healthy control group.

Background: Little is known about bone quality and its determinants in patients with opioid addiction. The goal of this study was to compare bone quality and its determinants in young opioid addicted women with a local group of young healthy women.

Method: Using cross-sectional design, 104 women (mean age 29.

In Situ Underwater Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Analysis for Trace Cr(VI) in Aqueous Solution Supported by Electrosorption Enrichment and a Gas-Assisted Localized Liquid Discharge Apparatus.

Traditional laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) always fails to directly detect target in aqueous solution due to rapid quenching of emitted light and adsorption of pulse energy by surrounding water. A method is proposed for the in situ underwater LIBS analysis of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution freed from the common problems mentioned above by combining a gas-assisted localized liquid discharge apparatus with electrosorption for the first time. In this approach, the introduction of the gas-assisted localized liquid discharge apparatus provides an instantaneous gaseous environment for underwater LIBS measurement (that is, the transfer of sampling matrix is not needed from aqueous solution to dry state).

A dual-colored ratiometric-fluorescent oligonucleotide probe for the detection of human telomerase RNA in cell extracts.

Human telomerase RNA (hTR), which is one component of telomerase, was deemed to be a biomarker to monitor tumor cells due to its different expression levels in tumor cells and normal somatic cells. Thus far, plentiful fluorescent probes have been designed to investigate nucleic acids. However, most of them are limited since they are time-consuming, require professional operators and even result in false positive signals in the cellular environment.

High sensitivity field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer.

A high sensitivity field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS) was designed, fabricated, and tested. The main components of the system are a 10.6 eV UV photoionization source, an ion filter driven by a high voltage/high frequency n-MOS inverter circuit, and a low noise ion detector.

Optimal Hotspots of Dynamic Surfaced-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Drugs Quantitative Detection.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a powerful qualitative analysis method has been widely applied in many fields. However, SERS for quantitative analysis still suffers from several challenges partially because of the absence of stable and credible analytical strategy. Here, we demonstrate that the optimal hotspots created from dynamic surfaced-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (D-SERS) can be used for quantitative SERS measurements.

[ARM-based Embedded Detection System of Cardiovascular Function Parameters].

A cardiovascular function testing system was designed in platform which was built with ARM microprocessor s3c2440 and Linux system, to achieve pulse wave acquisition, feature extraction, index calculation and so on. This article mainly describes the hardware circuit, and describes the touchscreen driver, external ADC driver, and visualization QT-based applications in detail. The system is easy to use, with real-time, low power consumption.

Upregulation of Mineralocorticoid Receptor in the Hypothalamus Associated with a High Anxiety-like Level in Apolipoprotein E4 Transgenic Mice.

Anxiety symptoms occur in a large portion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. ApolipoproteinE-4 (ApoE ε4 allele), a risk factor for AD, has been recognized as an important contributor to psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the corticosterone level in relation to anxiety-like behavior changes in transgenic male mice with different glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-ApoE isoforms.

Surface-Electronic-State-Modulated, Single-Crystalline (001) TiO Nanosheets for Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing of Heavy-Metal Ions.

Intrinsically low conductivity and poor reactivity restrict many semiconductors from electrochemical detection. Usually, metal- and carbon-based modifications of semiconductors are necessary, making them complex, expensive, and unstable. Here, for the first time, we present a surface-electronic-state-modulation-based concept applied to semiconductors.

Tin Oxide Crystals Exposed by Low-Energy {110} Facets for Enhanced Electrochemical Heavy Metal Ions Sensing: X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Experimental Combined with Density-Functional Theory Evidence.

Herein, we revealed that the electrochemical behaviors on the detection of heavy metal ions (HMIs) would largely rely on the exposed facets of SnO nanoparticles. Compared to the high-energy {221} facet, the low-energy {110} facet of SnO possessed better electrochemical performance. The adsorption/desorption tests, density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) studies showed that the lower barrier energy of surface diffusion on {110} facet was critical for the superior electrochemical property, which was favorable for the ions diffusion on the electrode, and further leading the enhanced electrochemical performance.

Study on the removal of organic micropollutants from aqueous and ethanol solutions by HAP membranes with tunable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity.

A biocompatible and uniquely defined hydroxyapatite (HAP) adsorption membrane with a sandwich structure was developed for the removal of organic micropollutants for the first time. Both the adsorption and membrane technique were used for the removal of organic micropollutants. The hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the HAP adsorbent and membrane were tunable by controlling the surface structure of HAP.